In an interview with The Sun, Cowell considered that 1D "could" reunite without Harry Styles, who's become a bit of a movie star since the release of Dunkirk. Still, he concedes that "it wouldn't be the same."

Either way, though, he's in.

"You know, it’s fun being out there on your own but what I hope is going to happen is that they remember now how much fun it was being in a group," he said. “I always believe that you don’t make rules, you break the rules. So there’s nothing to stop them, if they want to, getting together for a tour, for an album."

"It’s been a year and a bit already [since the hiatus]. We don’t want to put a time on it… You know I’m going to probably end up touring, Harry will probably end up doing the same, probably Liam, probably Louis. That’s a year. Time adds up…but when that phone call does come, no matter whoever it comes from, we’re back again.”